kkeenan

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Everything posted by kkeenan

  1. True, but still less than some of the other events on that circuit. We all thought $2 gas was outrageous, until we saw $3 gas. Now $2.50 seems like a good deal. Kevin K. _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?
  2. Damn, Tommy Boy - I taught you everything I know and still you don't know nothing. Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?
  3. Another common problem (after legs not being out enough) is hand / arm position. as you extend your legs, bring in your arms so that your hands are about even with your ears. This will allow and assist your legs to move you forward. As you get close to the grip, don't reach. Keep your hands back until your face is almost at the grip - unless you're coming in at blinding speed. Putting your hands out will slow you down to a stop and if you are too far out, you'll not reach the grip. Keep moving in until you are very close, stabilize yourself in the position, and then take the grip. As you get more experience, and approach with more speed, you will learn to manage the momentum and speed, and it will become more natural.
  4. You can't beat ZHills night jumps. I guess it's the added safety of the Flaming Beer Line that appeals to me. Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?
  5. That's my point. The concept of having your first customers do the final product testing is a great money-saving strategy, as long as the product is reasonably bug-free. I'd say the Vigil guys are kind of close to the edge, however. With a product in an application like this, it's tough to keep customers after too many "funny" incidents. Many younger mainstream jumpers prefer technology that's at least several minutes newer, plus, they've grown up with and are more forgiving of "death by software". Kevin K. _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?
  6. I've only seen one occurance of it, but it was damn well impressive - the 5 Vigils that fired inside the C-130 at the World Team jumps in Thailand. I was surprised to learn later that there were only five, because it seemed like there were reserve pilot chutes flying everywhere. There were no doors open or anything, and they got them under control quick enough. But jeez - some folks are high-strung enough on some dives without wierd shit like that going on. I personally think that the Vigil should have had much more "Beta" testing before being sold full-out. I'm sure that the bugs will be worked out. Till then, I'll carry use the other brand. Kevin K. _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?
  7. Copied from PIA Rigger's Forum. I have no further info. ======================= 8/26/2006 Hi I would like to inform you that today a VIGIL (Student mode) fired on the ground. The rig was in a static position on the ground. A.A.D the mfg. of the Vigil was informed. Reasons for the misfiring are unknown at this point of time. The unit will be shipped back to the mfg. for investigation. Safe Rigging !!! _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?
  8. In my opinion, stuffing it back in the box with a "Return to Sender" label is the best setup. Kevin Keenan _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?
  9. That would be a good question for you to ask the manufacturers who design the canopies to deploy with the brakes set. Most of them claim to know what they're doing. Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?
  10. Anyone can be sued for anything. I think that the rationale expressed by several others that the intent of the action was to save the life of the PC owner, as well as possibly all the others in the aircraft, makes it a "Good Samaritan" sort of action i.e. you had the best intentions, even if it didn't go so well. Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?
  11. I had a total on my 100th jump, back in front-mount reserve days. The D-rings where the reserve attached were not very high, just about mid-chest. Anyway, the opening on that thing was something that I still remember 30-something years later. The 24' flat circular canopy had no deployment system and they said it opens fully in 0.9 sec. It basicly pulls you up in the middle, while your head and feet are pulled downwards. I'm not sure if I had bootprints on the back of my helmet, but it sure felt like it. I'd hate to have an opening like that today. With a modern rig, the reserve pulls you from the shoulders, just like a main. Still rough on your neck. I agree with the chiropractor suggestion along with rest and no jumping for a while. It's hard to do, but every opening will be re-injuring those same points and inhibiting the healing. Good luck with it. Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?
  12. Please add a catagory called: "Cutaways from Multi-Canopy Spinning CRW Wraps" Now, That's entertainment ! Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?
  13. I think the main point here is this: If you pick your reserve with more consideration to its packed volume i.e. "Is it properly small and cool", then you may be jeapordizing your safety. If you land unconscious under a small, overloaded reserve, you have a greater chance of getting seriously injured or killed. Sure, it's possible for a skilled canopy pilot to pull off a landing under a reserve at a wingloading of 1.9. But, if you're hanging limp in the harness with visions of sugarplums dancing in your head when you cream into a Wal-Mart parking lot, then none of that skill will help, and you may never wake up. It's common knowledge that many folks jump reserves that are way over the wingloading that would be considered safe in the event of this scenario. But this is a sport of individual choices and risk assessments. I make my equipment choices and you make yours. No problems. Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?
  14. The thread discussing packers and their responsibility, got me thinking - Federal Aviation Regulations require that all packers of main parachutes either hold an FAA Rigger Cert. or be supervised by a Rigger. I've met packers who feel that they know as much about packing as any rigger, and a lot of them are very knowledgable. However, rules is rules, and I wonder how many packing operations actually comply with this FAR. Or how many packers have even heard of it... Kevin K. _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?
  15. Ah, Yes... Takin' the Edge Off. That was one of my favorites as well.
  16. Howards are nice, but those Staggerwings are a work of art. _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?
  17. Not the "Gypsy Moths" Howard, but for all you Howard fans, here's a nice shot of "Howard Row" at Oshkosh this year. Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?
  18. I think you're on the right track. Obviously, the specific altitudes are a guide, and will change with wind conditions. You both have enough jumps, now, to eyeball it and make the needed changes. Remember that with more altitude comes more options. Once you get low on an approach, you can't add power like an airplane. So, if you end up a little high on final, that's better than being too low because you can do some S-turns to bleed off the extra altitude until you get it where you want it. Just go back and forth across the windline and try to time it so that you are back in the middle when it's time to get back on your heading for final approach. Remember to keep your landing area in sight during your turns and to NOT MAKE ANY LOW TURNS. Landing at a heading not exactly aligned with the wind is nowhere as bad as trying to get directly into the wind at the last minute with a low turn. See if you can get a copy of Brian Germain's book, The Parachute and Its Pilot. Brian explains everything you ever wanted to know about parachutes and flying and landing them. There's a write-up about it here: http://www.skydivingmagazine.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=SBS&Product_Code=TPAIP&Category_Code=1B If any of this contradicts what your instructors have told you, by all means, follow thier advise. You can't believe everything you read on the internet. Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?
  19. So, it's OK to use it on a base jump. _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?
  20. The guy who told you this was the rescuer, right ?? Well, my opinion is that that guy was full of shit, and never expected you to ask anyone who could tell you differently. Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?
  21. With Slinks on the reserve risers, is there any chance of reserve slider coming down over them and getting involved with the toggles, or do the wide reserve risers prevent that ? I guess the "sliding down" problem is only on mini risers, which are not yet in style for reserves. Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?
  22. There are a couple of them in MN. Or was that Wisconsin ? Close enough. Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?
  23. We used to have some great times at Indiantown. I remember every Sunday morning, the pile of empties around the fire was awesome. Once when there was a storm on top of the DZ, we jumped a Beaver load of us into a field at Naked Lady Ranch, a few miles away. The guy in charge came up to us, screaming bloody murder that we were tresspassing and he was going to call the cops. Right in the middle of his eye-bulging tirade, I hears the engine cut on the 182 overhead. Well, thinks I, this dude is in for more stress. Sure enough, about 60 sec. later, the Cessna load opens overhead, and the guy's apeshit level jumps up another order of magnitude. Popp was flying the Cessna, and thought all was fine with us landing there, but this manager was obviously not clued-in on that agreement. While the manager was busy yelling and calling the Sheriff, Popp swoops in with the Cessna on a super-low buzz job and a bunch of aerial tricks overhead. Needless to say, the manager was about to have a seizure at this point, and all of us jumpers laughing and cheering didn't help his mood. Popp eventually landed after his airshow, about the time the Sheriff's deputies showed up. We all packed while they sorted things out - we figured if we were going to jail, at least out rigs would be packed. Eventually, everything worked out, and we all piled into the airplanes and went back to the DZ. Don't know if they ever jumped at Naked Lady Ranch again, though. Kevin K. SCR 3022 SCS 2226 ToadSucker 46 _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?
  24. Excellent post. I'm seeing an increasing number of folks who's only involvement with their gear is wearing it on a jump. Now, the newer jumpers who want to know about gear care have trouble getting complete info even from some of their instructors. What you've laid out is a good, comprehensive plan that will keep people's gear in top shape and, more importantly, encourage them to examine more components and gain more knowledge of the operation / maintenance of it. Mini risers go bad, as you said, at the top of the grommet. The grommet hole on a mini takes out a greater % of the webbing material than the same size hole in a wide riser. Therefore, the opening forces are more concentrated and the first place that shows is the top of the grommet. Infinity makes some great minis at a good price. Is there anything known about the compatibility of Lok-Tite (wet or dry) with parachute materials ?? I'm sure with a reasonable amount of care, you shouldn't get any on the risers or lines, but it's something to watch out for. Again, thanks for educating the newbies as well as the oldies. Kevin _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?
  25. Very common. We have 8-10 people at my DZ who do this all the time. _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ?